hi, i have been playing clarinet for 7 years and i started out on a Selmer. I then was given a Vito to play in marching, concert, pep, and jazz band. I play all 1st Bb music. I am going to be playing clarinet for atleast 6 more years and i want a better clarinet. Price isn't really a problem here but I just want to know what the best brand to get would be. I have been told to try a Buffet R-13. Is that a good brand? I have also been told to try a Noblet. Is that a good brand? Any information could help at this point.

My Leblanc Rapsodie has served me well. I'm selling it if you are interested. It is about 5 years old and i have taken great care of it. Let me know if you are interested in buying it.

Thanks, John.

Buffet are the top known and played brand around, and there is a reason!!! I played on a clarinet supplied by the company giving me lessons, but one day, a key fell off!!! So my mum borrowed a Buffet B12 (student model) from her school, and suddenly, high C and D were so much easier to play! So Buffet are good!
I haven't heard much about Noblet, except that they're made by Leblanc. Apparently they're quite good.
You could try a Yamaha Custom clarinet. I might get shot at for this, but I liked the Yamaha YCL-CX more than the Buffet
R-13! They don't suit everyone, but I just liked it more! Don't get a Yamaha 650 though, they're not that good!
Pyface

As others have said you could try Yamaha & Leblanc/Noblet as well as Buffet. Then there is Henri Selmer (France) - a few steps up from the US Selmer offerings. Less well known, smaller companies but still producing excellent clarinets are Howarth & Peter Eaton from the UK & Rossi in S. America.

These all produce top quality professional instruments. It's just a question of what suits you having tried the various models.

Good luck in your hunt.

thanks john, i will think about it.

well its good to hear that high C and D will be easier to play. My friends has a Noblet and it is amazing and he plays amazing also, his mom got it for him at a yard sale for 20 dollars unknowing of the value of it. Now kerrs is trying to buy it off of him for like 900 dollars. But he won't sell it. He let me play it in class the other day and i was amazed. Everything I played sounded amazing. I could play every note with ease. The sound and loudness of the notes were great. I have never been able to play that loud and well. I have never played a Yamaha before so I migh get our band director to get one in for me to try. But I have yet to ever play a Buffet R-13 so I am keeping that in mind.

I will have to try a lot of brands before my mom puts out that much money for one that I will not be able to play to its full potential. she is willing to pay up to 3000 dollars for me one. I am very in to my music so I am looking for a very good one. What other brands are not that well known but are worth looking for? thanks, my hunt so far is proving difficult.

thanks, tanya

Ok, here are a couple of lesser known brands:

Peter Eaton clarinets- renowned, but expensive!
Amati- Apparently good, but haven't heard much!
Rossi- Renowned, but expensive
Chadash-known, but I don't know much! There are a few reviews if you type chadash clarinets on Google.

thanks, i will look for all of these and i will talk to my friend about these brands. i will let you know when i try these to tell you how they play. i plan to try every brand i can before i make my decision

I've always wanted a Low C Buffet, but they're crazy expensive. I had an old Bundy student model that worked surprisingly well, and I've upgraded to a wooden Selmer that works fantastic. Still wishing I had that Low C though...

Make sure you get a good mouthpiece... huge effect on sound quality.

in 5th grade i started out on a wooden selmer and i couldnt play in, i can play it now but it is out of tune like crazy. my band teacher is a !****! and has no idea how to get it in tune.so far the best i have tried is a noblet. it is my favorite. i couldnt play it using my mouth piece so i used the one my friend uses for it and it sounded amazing.

i have had like 4 mouth piece for the clarinet i have now, because people got jealous of my playing so they busted them. but the one i have now doesnt even fit the barrel but it still works.

I DEFINITELY recommend the Buffet Crampon R13 clarinet. That's what I play, and I love it. It has a beautiful and full sound in the upper and lower register. (The low notes are sooo pretty. Very deep and smooth sounding.)
Also, I have also been playing for 7 years.

Buffet.

I'm upgrading now too, and I'm going to get a Buffet. There's a clarinet specialty shop near me that only sells Buffets. R 13s are pretty expensive, but they are really good. However, there are other models. Trust me: I've been researching for a long time. However, Yamaha, Leblanc, and Selmer also have good high-level models.